Homeowner’s Guide to Energy: What’s Driving Up the Bill?

All the large and small appliances in your home contribute to your electricity bill. An item rated 1,000 watts will consume 1 kWh (kilowatt-hour) if you leave it on for an hour. However, some big watt items don’t contribute considerably to your bill because you don’t operate them for long. So which appliances contribute the most? Here are the biggest energy hogs in your home as well as the steps you can take to reduce your HVAC energy usage (Hint: because your HVAC system is a big-time energy hog).

The Top Electricity-Drawing Appliances

1. Heating system — This is arguably the hungriest home appliance. It has probably even made the sheer thought of your heating bill arriving horrifying a couple of times. A heating system can consume as much as 3,500 kWh per month.
2. Cooling system — Your cooling system can use as much as 900 to 1,800 kWh per hour. Heating and cooling are responsible for about 47 percent of residential energy consumption.
3. Water heater — It consumes 400 kWh per month on average.
4. Lighting — Individually, light bulbs don’t use too much electricity. However, due to our habit of using many light fixtures at once and leaving them for more than necessary, their costs can add up significantly. It accounts for about 12 percent of your home’s energy use.
5. Refrigerator — This is the highest-consuming appliance in US kitchens. The energy it consumes ranges from 30 to 200 kWh per month.

Useful Tips to Save Energy

Responsible for about half of your energy consumption, your HVAC system consumes the most energy hands down. Here are some helpful tips to lower its energy consumption:

• Invest in a programmable thermostat.
• Change your air filters regularly.
• Seal all leaks in your ductwork.
• Ensure your attic has at least 16 inches of insulation to minimize heat gain, which lowers A/C efficiency.
• Have an HVAC professional check your HVAC system every year.
• Consider upgrading to a modern HVAC model, which will be significantly more efficient than older models.

Limiting your HVAC energy usage will have a significant effect on your energy bills. If you need more solutions to reducing HVAC energy usage in the Lorain area, contact the energy efficiency experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.